Comparing the Strength as Blocks Made From Cement and Lateritic Soil, Cement and Red Earth, Laterite, Sand and Red Earth
CHAPTER ONE
Objective
This case study is “comparing the strength of blocks made from: cement stabilized laterite blocks, cement stabilized red earth blocks and sand, red earth and laterite blocks and mud blocks dried in the kiln.
This project implement the following analysis
- To effect reduction to the rise in market price of sand (fine aggregate), cement blocks to substitute literate blocks.
- To determine the strength of the cement stabilized blocks of literate soil in the soil laboratory with a view to have an alternative in the building industry.
- To analyse the existing laterite soil and evaluate it’s suitability for use as a good building material by means of various tests.
CHAPTER TWO
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS
The materials used were cement, red earth, laterite and sharp sand. These materials were kept in a good working condition before the particles was carried in other to get the desired results.
The cement was bought few days to the time the project was carried out. The bag of cement was kept in a room free from moisture content and enough ventilation to allow the passage of air. After the coupling of cement from the bag, it was properly closed to prevent the passage to too much and to avoid hardening or the cement.
The red earth contained little moisture because it was obtained during the period of rainy season. The red earth was spread on the floor, to in other to be dried by air. The red earth was thoroughly dried another to reduce it’s red earth and to avoid too much water in the mixture during preparation. All these were done towards achieving an accurate results.
The sharp sand was sieved to remove foreign materials and unwanted particles. It was severely washed to aid in the removal of unwanted particles and latter spread on the floor to allow air to pass through it for during.
The laterite was kept in a good conditions, big stones and unwanted materials in it was hand picked before the mixture was prepared.
Finally, the water was clean and free from acidic content. Although dirt’s in water won’t necessarily affect the result of the particles.
Preparation of materials helped use to have uninterrupted and smooth mixing of the mixtures.
CHAPTER THREE
CONCRETING
PREPARATION OF MIX
To prepare the mix, the sample (soil) was spread over horizontal plat form, smooth and free from dirt, with aid of spade, the cement and was thoroughly mixed. The center was opened with the spade and water gradually added, the water was added installmentally and recorded and thoroughly mixed to form a paste (mortar) making sure that no water escaped from the mixture. The turning of the paste was done in such a way that the water mixed with cement sand mixture completely.
CHAPTER FOUR
FIRING OF RED EARTH AND LATERITE BLOCKS IN KILN
Some specimen of red earth blocks and laterite blocks were passed through the kiln in other to determine the strength of the fired blocks and unfired blocks. The specimen were first fired at a temperature of 9000C and latter to a temperature of 12000C. After firing, the red earth block couldn’t withstand the temperature. The laterite blocks scattered on removal from the kiln.
It was latter discovered that the laterite materials did not have that binding effect. The materials did not bind together strongly. The presence of large and good number of stones added to lack of the binding effect.
The red earth blocks was able to withstand the heat because it had a good binding effect because of elasticity of the materials when water was added into the material. The mud blocks of further heated would have resulted into cracks because it’s elastic limit has been maximally reached. It was latter discovered that the fired blocks had a higher crushing strength than the unfired.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
The compaction was free of problems, with the stabilized laterite and sand morter blocks, as the entire ratio were easy to compact. The small variation of the result weight of the blocks was a result of the compaction done on cemented flat surface and later done flat uncommented floor due to cracking. We noticed that the red soil was faster than that of laterite because of the hardness although both were compacted very well. This contributed to the smoothing of the cube surface with small an open room in the soil laboratory. When the cubes have reached their designated periods, before been weighted and tested for their compressive strength (for 24 hours) there was no much loss of water from the cubes during curing as the cubes were sprinkled with water every morning till the age of maturity (7 days). They were taken to the soil laboratory where they were weighed and tested for compressive strength.
Each strength was recorded from the machine. We also determine the relationship between the compressive strength of the laterite stabilized blocks and that of red soil to know which of them is the best for building when one cannot afford sharp sand (river sand).
THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TABLE WITH THE CEMENT MORTAR BLOCKS
This is to determine the relationship between the compressive strength of the morter blocks with that of stabilized laterite blocks. The table of readings of cement mortar blocks was lifted from an already approved readings.
From the short table as shown above, it has been confirmed that the compressive strength of the cement stabilized laterite blocks and the cement stabilized red earth blocks is relatively stronger and almost the same strength, if not the same strength.
Below are the factors responsible for the results when mixed in the same proportion, stabilized laterite soil can be used in place of sand.
- The degree of compaction achieved
- The chemical composition of the aggregates
- There could have been temperature fluctuation not noted during reading of records
- The effectiveness of manual mixing of the concrete cubes
- Accuracy may not have been achieved during the batching by volume.
CHAPTER SIX
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
- The result obtained appear satisfactory for ordinary structural building made with sharp sand, laterite and red soil.
- The use of laterite soil blocks has great potential in construction cost of a house to a normal structural concrete.
- The compressive strength of concrete mix made with laterite soil, sand (lime aggregate) red soil (mud) and cement mortar blocks increases with age.
- The compressive strength of concrete is relatively high and relatively brittle material hence steel reinforcement rods should be used in combination with the concrete, because concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Elvery R.H. (1963) concrete practice vol. 11 London
- Engr. S.E. Eze Lecture Note on strength of materials
- Porland concrete Association (1975) principles of quantity concrete.
- Engr. E.O. Okafor Lecture Note on soil mechanics
- B.S. 1881 Part III (1970) Method of testing concrete
- B.S. 1881 Part I (1970) Method of sampling fresh concrete
- Arroyed T.N.N (1762) Concrete proportion manufacture.
